Folding table



Sept. 27, 1932.

M. A. WILKINSON FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Dec. :5, 193C INVENTOR. MICHAEL A. WILKINSON p 27, 1932- M. A. WILKINSON 1,879,649

FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. I

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 h i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MICHAEL A. WILKINSON, on OWEGO, NEW YORK FOL ING TABLE Application filed December 3, 1939. iSeria1 N0. 499,676.

My invention relates generally to tables Figure 7 is a cross sectional View taken on and particularly to the folding or collapsible the line 77 of Figure 5. g a type of table used for banquets, card parties, The reference character 1 refers to the etc. top to'which, onthe underside thereof, are

' 5 The primary object of my invention is to secured two sets of legs 2 and 3 as by means 55 provide a folding table which in folded posiof the cross members 1 and 5 respectively, tion economizes to a considerable extent the joining the upper ends thereof, v and the amount of space required for stacking and hinges 6. It will be noted with particular storing same and which whenset up for use reference to Figure 2 that the set of legs 2 affords a rigid substantial structure void of are mounted slightly 01f center to the right on extraneous and unsightly contrivances, and of the top 1 and that the set of legs 3 are thus simulates to a marked degree in design l lted slightly off center to the left 'of and appearance the ordinary nonfolding me Whereby When the legs are swung intable. Wardly to collapsed or folded position as A th nd important objectof my inven herein shown in dotted lines, theywill co- :4

plates the provision of anovel locking means of the p 1 is a r atively long flange U- 7 tion lies in the provision of a simple, compact p iy y p s e another d e ooperating hani h b th user b gether 1n parallel p0s1t1on on the under side crating one leg, simultaneously and automat- 0f the p h f rementloned parts are ically moves'the other legs to either folded or preferably made fW It Sh uld be unv upright position thus facilitating and exped, however, that theymay be made diting the operation and at the same time eneq y as W911 y fi o y d rable, abling one person to fold or unfold the table l g and ubstantla1 mammal whlch lends with a. minimu of fl' h vitself to this construction.

A further object of my invention contem- Mounted- 011 the under Side and e tr y which automatically locks and rigidly mainpe housmg 7 S p Othflwise l tains the legs in upright position but which y formed of Channel Stock Other Sultmay b i kl d il l d f f ld able mater1al and secured thereto by, screws ing Same to Collapsed position. 8 or other sultable fastening means. Elon- Other objects and advantages in details of gated cigar shaped Slots Openings 9 and 80 construction and operation will be apparent 10 l Struck Otherwise suitably lf as the description proceeds, reference now longltlldmally i slde of QU P being had to the figures of the accompanying housmg to permlt me passage t m of D drawings forming a part of this application Shaped braces and 12 Whlch P e and wherein like reference numerals indicate through. and exbeind anglllarly ofitwardly 85 like parts and downwardly in opposite directions and In the drawings: I are plvotally secured at their lower ends as Fi ure 1 is a side elevational view of the at 13 to the Inner sldes of the legs 2 a The excess metal struck from the sides of 40 table 1n unfolded or upright POSltlOn; u h f Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof with 18 ouslng to Orm the Slots 9 and 10 1S bent a dotted line indication of the folded or colsf 2 1 igfi ii igg gg 5 3 5 lapsfad P E scribed. At what would normally be con- Flgul'e 3 1S a slde Vlew of the Operatmg a d sidered the apex of these V-shaped braces 11 j lO k 1I1gm h 1 I1- and 12, in other words, at the point where F gure 4t 1s a top plan view of same. they pass through the slots 9 and 10, they Flgure 5 1s a cross sectional VleW taken 11 are bent or otherwise suitably formed horithe line 55 of Figure 4. zontally as 13 and 1 1 fora suflicient distance Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken beyond the sides of the'housing 7 to permit on the line 6-6 of Figure 4. f free andunrestricted longitudinal movement in the slots 9 and 10 thereof. As before stated the slots 9 and 10 are cigar shaped viz., they are bellied at their centers as at 15 and arcuately tapered toward their opposite ends 16 and 17 to a width approximating the diameter of the braces 11 and 12, for a purpose to be described. I

Slightly beyond the ends 16 and 17 of and on center with the slots 9 and 10 are cross shafts 18 and 19 rigidly secured between the sides of the U-shaped housing 7 as at 20: over and around which is adapted topass an endless chain 21. Spaced flanges 22 are"'pro- .vided intermediate the ends of the cross shafts 18 and 19 to guide the chain 21 as it passes thereover. Inter-posed, and secured as at 23between two links on the upper side and two links on the lower side of this chain 21 and in cooperative spaced relation with each other are plates 24 and 25.1, These plates 24 and 25 extend horizontally across the housing 7 and terminate slightly within the sides of same, the upper plate 24 engaging at its extreme opposite ends the upper sides of the upper set of flanges 9a and 10a of the slots 9 and 10 and the lower plate 25 engaging at its extreme opposite ends on the lower sides of the lower set of flanges 9a and 10a thereof. The horizontally disposed portions 13 and 14 of the V-shaped braces 11 and 12 are pivotally secured to these plates 24 and 25 respectively asby means of the straps or bands 26 which are riveted or otherwise suitably attached, thus holding the portions 13 and 14 of the braces 11 and 12 against the flanges 9a and 10a of the-slots 9 and 10. At the point where the straps engage the horizontal portions 13 and 14 of the braces 11 and 12 said portions are slightly reduced in diameter thus forming a shoulder 27 as clearly shown in Figure 7 and thus insuring against sideplay. Obviously by Virtue of the connections of the braces 11 and 12 with the chain 21 and legs 2 and 3- movement of one set of legs outwardly or inwardly simultaneously imparts similar movement to the opposite set of legs and vice versa.

Immediately beneath the-lower side of'the plate 25 is looking member 28 formed preferably of sheet stock, and pivotally secured. at its ends by bending same as at 29 to form the pintles 30 adapted to be socketed in the up.- wardly bent portions 31 disposed at the 0pposit ends of the housing 7 adjacent one side thereof.

This locking member 28 is blanked, stamped or otherwise suitably formed adjacent its ends with outwardly extending fine gers 32 as clearly shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the extreme ends of which are depressed as at 33 to form recesses for securing the ends of coil springs 34 thereto, the opposite ends of the springs 34 are anchored as at 35- in lugs or cars 36 struck from one side of the housing 7 or otherwise suitably provided therein near the upper edge thereof whereby the locking member 28 is normally urged upwardly against the plate 25. Intermediate the ends of this locking member 28 is the outwardly extending portion 37 bent right angularly upwardly and formed at its upper edge on a parallel arcuate contour to the lower set of flanges 9a and 10a asat 38'. This outwardly extending portion 37 and 38 terminates at each of its ends at a distance withinLthe ends, 161 and 17 of the slots 9 and 10 approximately that of the diameter of the braces 11 and 12 as at 39. The plates 24 and 25 are notched inwardly as at 40 flush with the horizontal portions 13 and 14 of the I braces 11 and 12 at a point in alignment with the upwardly bentportion 38 of the locking member 28 to permit the passage therethrough of the upwardly bent portion 3.8 thereof. Centrally on the underside of the locking-member28 is rigidly secured a finger piece 41 extending downwardly therefrom through an opening 42 in the bottom of the housing 7 whereby the locking member 28 may be moved downwardly on its axis outof locking engagement with the braces 11 and 12-. In such position it is obvious that as the legs 2 and 3. are folded inwardly the braces 11 and 12 will be slid inwardly toward one another and the portions 14 thereof will simultaneously be moved upwardly and downwardly from oneianother as they approach the centers of theslots 9 and 10- by virtue of the plates 24 and 25 attached thereto. riding over the arcuate flanges 9a and 10a thereof thereby permitting the braces 11 and 12 to pass each other. In this position the locking plate 28 will be held downwardly against the tension ofthe springs 34 bythe plate 25 engaging against the arcuately formed edge 38 thereof, said engagement being sufficiently frictional to hold the legs 2' and- 3. in, collapsed'position. It will be clear that asthe user moves either of these sets of legs2 and 3 to upright position the opposite set of legs will. be simultaneously moved to same position and the. braces 11 and 12' attached there- .with will be slid outwardly past one another until the portions 13 and 14 thereof. abut against the ends 16 and 17 ofthe slots 9-and 10 whereupon the locking member 28 will snap upwardly into locking position and thus rigidly and securely maintain the legs 2 and 3 in said position.

I claim 1. In combination with a. table having hinged legs and a top, a housing member on the underside of the table top, a pair of brace rods extending through'said housing and slidable therein, the ends of said rods being pivotally secured to said legs, a movable endless member in said housingto which said rods are attached, whereby movement of one of: said; legs. results in movement of all of said legs. 7

2. In combination with a table having said endless member, the braces from one hinged legs and a top, a housing member on the underside of the table top, a pair of brace rods extending through said housing and slidable therein, the ends of said rods being pivotally secured to said legs, a movable endless member in said housing to which said rods are attached, whereby movement of one of: said legs results in movement of all of said legs, the sides of said housing being slotted to permit guided sliding movement of said rods. 7

3. In combination with a table having hinged legs and a top, a housing member on the underside of the table top, a pair of brace rods extendin through said housing and slidable therein, the ends of said rods being pivotally secured to said legs, av movable endless member in said housing to which said rods are attached, whereby movement of one of said legs results in movement of all of said legs, the sides of said housing being slotted to permit guided sliding movement of said rods, said slotted sides being flanged to form guides for said rods.

point being connected to one pair of legs, and the braces from the other point belng connected to the other pair of legs.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

MICHAEL A. WVILKINSON.

4. In combination with a table having I hinged legs and a top, a housing member on the underside of the table top, a pair of brace rods extending through said housing and slidable therein, the ends of said rods being pivotally secured to said legs, a movable endless member in said housing to which said rods are attached, whereby movement of one of said legs results in movement of all of said legs, the sides of said housing being slotted to permit guided sliding movement of said rods, said slotted sides being flanged to form guides for said rods, and said slots being enlarged at their center portions to permit free movement of said rods past each other in said housing.

5. In combination with a table having hinged legs and a top, a housing member on the underside of the table top, a pair of brace rods extending through said housing and slidable therein, the ends of said rods being pivotally secured to said legs, a movable endless member in said housing to which said rods are attached, whereby movement of one of said legs results in movement of all of said legs, the sides of said housing being slotted to permit guided sliding movement of said rods, said slotted sides being flanged to form guides for said rods, and said slots being enlarged at their center portions to permit free movement of said rods past each other in said housing, and a locking lever normally urged to locking position and adapted to move between said rods when they have reached the ends of the housing and opened the legs.

6. In combination with a table having hinged legs and a top, guiding means on the underside of said top, and a movable endless member guided by said guiding means,leg braces attached at two opposite points on 

